Top 10 Biking Vacations of the United States

Since we just posted on how to stay hydrated and cool for your summer biking adventure. We thought we would post some of the top biking vacations located throughout our country.

Summer and Fall are ideal times of the year to get out and get some great exercise and when you couple biking with taking in the scenic views that you get to see firsthand it seems like a win-win!

And to help you as you travel throughout the country, make sure you know exactly where you are and how far you need to go to get to your destinations, by taking along a reliable GPS Cycling Computer from HeartRateMonitorsUSA.com The Garmin Edge 820 Cycling Computer It not only lets you know where you are, where you’re going but also how well your doing. And if you’re traveling as a group, it can keep track of everyone via the group track and Garmin Connect!

PALISADE – Where? ColoradoIn Colorado's lush Western Slope, where you'll find the state's famous peach-growing region and up-and-coming wine country, the small town of Palisade hosts the new Fruit and Wine Byway. The well-marked, 25-mile loop—set in the shadow of the 11,000-foot Grand Mesa and the iconic sandstone cliffs known as the Book Cliffs—guides both motorists and cyclists along scenic backcountry roads to more than 50 vineyards, orchards, farms, and fruit stands. There are also shorter routes for those who want to spend less time on the bike and more time tasting wine.

Insider Tip: The picturesque Wine Country Inn, located in a vineyard along the Fruit and Wine Byway, is a fitting base camp for a weekend getaway spent biking through Colorado wine country

SANTA FE – Where? New MexicoThe artist and writer's haven of Santa Fe is also a road and mountain biking mecca. Nestled at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains at 7,000 feet, the vibrant town offers equal parts outdoor adventure and urban sophistication. In 2012, the Santa Fe Metropolitan Planning Organization created detailed maps of the area's bikeways. For the most stunning rides of your life, plan to see at least a portion of the Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway.

The Santa Fe Century ride has been bringing people together to bike the Turquoise Trail for nearly three decades. More recently, a three-day festival called Bike and Brew celebrates the city's craft beer and cycling scene, with organized rides, cycling clinics, and gourmet beer dinners

TRAVELERS REST – Where? South CarolinaA small town in upstate South Carolina, Travelers Rest is the latest must-visit destination for cyclists. In 2013, retired 17-time Tour de France competitor George Hincapie, who lives in nearby Greenville, opened Hotel Domestique atop a hillside draped in vineyards. The European-style boutique hotel, complete with a fitness studio, Olympic-size pool, and gourmet restaurant, caters to cyclists keen to bike the winding roads through the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains.

SAN JUAN ISLANDS – Where? Washington (Thought You'd Have to Take a Boat Trip ? :) )According to the 2015 Bicycle Friendly State ranking, Washington is No. 1, and for the seventh year in a row. In the summer, it's hard to beat biking the San Juan Islands, particularly Orcas, known as the Emerald Isle. The largest of the archipelago, Orcas spans 57 square miles total, bisected by winding rural roads through forests and fields. For a worthy challenge, bike five miles up the epic (12% grade) route to the top of 2,409-foot Mount Constitution. Bring your camera, or better yet you’re GoPro and record the beautiful vistas —the highest point in the San Juans, Constitution serves up jaw-dropping views of the island-dotted sea, with snow-capped Mount Baker looming in the distance.

POINT REYES – Where? CaliforniaThe small town of Point Reyes Station isn't known as a cycling destination outside of Marin Country. But locals know that after grabbing a sticky bun at The Bovine Bakery, they can ride out in any direction and roll through some of the most beautiful road cycling routes anywhere in the world: north to Marshall or Bodega Bay along the coast; south along Bolinas Lagoon to Stinson Beach and Bolinas (or to climb up Mt. Tam); east to get to the rolling hills of Marin County; or our personal favorite—get really lost in the northeasterly direction, pulling long loops on deserted roads to tiny towns like Tomales and Two Rock.

FREDERICKSBURG – Where? TexasWith seemingly endless miles of hilly, rural roads through vineyards and a pleasantly warm subtropical climate, the Texas Hill Country—roughly the area between Austin and San Antonio—has become synonymous with road biking. Base yourself out of Fredericksburg, a small town with a big German influence (think never-ending Oktoberfest), and more than 400 B&B's, each more charming than the last.

MOAB – Where? UtahThe most famous mountain biking trail in the U.S., and possibly the world, can be found just outside the small, unpretentious town of Moab. Known as Slickrock, the trail is anything but slick. Fat tires literally stick to the grippy Navajo Sandstone for a roller coaster-like ride of steep inclines and hair-raising descents. Don't forget to take in the scenery: Slickrock rolls though some of the best viewpoints in Utah, serving up a red rock panorama stretching from the Colorado River to the 13,000-foot La Sal Mountains.

PHILADELPHIA – Where? PennsylvaniaSince its inception in 1986, the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy has transformed more than 20,000 miles of defunct railways all across the U.S. into bike paths. Pennsylvania is one of the conservancy's star states, with nearly 100 rail trails spanning more than 1,000 miles. Plan for a weekend of cycling in Philadelphia for a fresh twist on the City of Brotherly Love.

Insider Tip: Starting in downtown Philadelphia at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Schuylkill River Trail stretches 27 miles along the water to Valley Forge National Historic Park. Details on the bike path, and all of Pennsylvania’s rail trails, can be found here.http://www.traillink.com/state/pa-trails.aspx

BURLINGTON - Where: VermontThe hip foodie town of Burlington is also a standout place for cyclists. The paved 7.5-mile Burlington Bike Path follows the Lake Champlain shoreline in view of the Adirondack Mountains, linking six waterfront parks. It's a pleasant ride on its own, or use it as a connector, to the Lake Champlain Bikeways system, a 1,300-mile network of bike paths linking the best of New England scenery in New York, Vermont, and Quebec.

LOUISVILLE – Where? KentuckyFor bucolic farm-road riding in the Midwest, there's no place like Kentucky Bluegrass Country. Stay in Louisville, home of one of the oldest and most active cycling clubs in the nation, the Louisville Bicycle Club (formerly Louisville Wheelmen). The city fosters a bike-friendly culture and maintains a robust website of cycling information and maps.

Insider Tip: In 2013, Louisville hosted the UCI Cyclocross World Championships at the scenic Eva Bandman Park, located on the Ohio River. It was the first time in history that the event has been held outside of Europe. Eva Bandman remains the premier cyclocross venue in the U.S. and visitors are welcome to ride the course.

So, know that you know how to take care of yourself on those hot, sunny summertime days, go ahead and have that biking adventure you've been thinking about. Do you know what would make the trip even better? Why not make a point of taking your significant other along to enjoy the ride and sights with you? Pleasant Times make for Great Memories!

Travel Information about the biking destinations recommended were provided by Fodors.com.